The very concept of “couple dressing” can seem outdated, a sartorial relic of times gone by. But in the hands of the ever-fashionable Elle Ferguson and her fiancé Joel Patfull, the concept takes on a whole new meaning, whether they’re wearing distressed denim or adding a subtle injection of vintage. As Elle admits about their wardrobes, “Somehow we always end up going together, I don’t know how it happens but it just does.”

Even so, couple dressing for a high-profile event like the spring racing carnival is a different story – and it’s also the challenge we set for Elle, Joel, and stylist Dale McKie. As their winning race-day outfits show, it’s possible to match your partner in a modern and very cool way, by following a few simple guidelines...

Think yin and yang for Derby Day

The black-and-white dress code for Derby Day makes it tempting to try a head-to-toe match, but McKie makes a case for contrasting, instead. “It’s the yin and yang,” he explains. “Elle is in an ivory pantsuit with black accessories, so Joel went in the opposite direction, with a classic black suit to provide contrast.”

He also points to accessories as offering a more subtle way to match. “Joel’s black-and-white polkadot pocket square and feather tie pin with subtle polkadot detail match with Elle’s accessories. And his polished patent shoes match Elle’s patent heels.”

Joel notes that Derby Day is typically his favourite in the racing carnival. “I actually love that it’s all black and white dressing – you can’t go wrong!”

Try a subtle colour-match at Melbourne Cup

The secret to modern colour-matching, says McKie, is to keep it subtle. “Don’t be too literal and bold,” he cautions. “If the woman is wearing a bright pink dress, the guy shouldn’t simply wear a bright pink tie and pocket square. Choose a tie with a small element of the pink. Or maybe it’s a fun pair of socks with a peek of pink shining through.”

Applying this rule to Joel’s accessories, McKie picked up the raspberry colour of Elle’s dress in a fresh way. “Joel’s pocket square is in a similar tone but brighter and more vibrant. This lifts and elevates the look so it’s not too matchy-matchy.”

Elle acknowledges that this is her favourite of the three outfits. “It was the first look of the day and when Joel walked out in that suit my heart skipped a beat and I couldn’t stop looking at him. It made me so excited to get dressed up for the races.”

Go tonal for Oaks Day

Matching accessories is one thing, but as McKie notes, “the most important element is the base of the look: the dress and the suit.” While these shouldn’t be the same colour, it helps to keep the tone of them consistent and for Oaks Day, this means leaning towards softer shades.

“If you’re wearing soft tones like pastels, your partner shouldn’t wear black, which can be too harsh. Instead, he can complement your outfit with a navy or light grey suit. To complement Elle’s pastel green dress, we chose a pale blue micro-check suit for Joel, and teamed it with a paisley tie and pocket square that have subtle elements of the same green tone Elle is wearing. This ties their looks together without being too obvious. Joel’s light pink shirt also matches the colour of Elle’s soft pink heels.”